Warning for DLP guests staying/playing on 9th-11th Nov - it's a French BH Weekend

[blue_monkey]

Hi guys, I have been lurking for a while, come on Dis for all my info - we went to Florida in Feb this year and have come back needing some Disney Magic back into our lives.

Anyhow, I wanted to warn you about the French Bank Holiday which falls on Friday 9th November. We had a very quiet week in 2005 depsite it being Fireworks and Xmas celebrations (staying on the rides as no queues at all - it got a little boring in the end, LOL) and then on the Thursday night there was a sudden influx of people at the hotel. Come Friday morning you could not move for people, we went to MGM until 10.45 and then thought we would get into the pMK - we this is what we thought. We got to the gates and it was heaving - it was well up through the gardens, we walked around the side and thought we would try and cut in down the side entrances as the queues might be less. After 30 minutes we decided not to bother, went for lunch and ended up getting into the MK at gone 1pm. As we were due on the train we could not even retreat to the hotel but then someone working for VC told us that it was a long Bank Holiday for the french as it was Rememberance Sunday and EVERYONE has the weekend off work. Don't even think about getting near the characters as you get rammed out of the way - luckily in the week before this it was so quiet we would be standing around and they would be coming up to US and taking the camera off us to get their pictures taken!!

I wanted to give you word of warning - if you have booked this weekend already it might be worth you moving forward a week/back if you can as it then a) goes down in price and b) gets very quiet until December. It really was very hard - more so when it is so packed and you cannot speak French to ask people to move out of the way and the like - it was horrendous, I wish I had fair warning as I would have come home a day earlier - it was a waste of money in regard to paying for food, waiting in line and paying for tickets for the day.

They also have some big marquee up on that weekend where they seem to be selling loads of stuff cheap - the queue went for miles around the Village and it lead to this tent but people were coming out with black sacks so not only do you have to contend with the people you also have to contend with people carrying these big black sacks of stuff - and most people have more than one. It was an absloute nightmare so just giving you the heads up on this really. Avoid any French Bank Holiday and go the week before or after as everyone has gone back to school and work and it leaves the park free for those of us who hate queueing (but at least have some manners - did I say that out loud??)

 

[Cyrano]

Hi blue_monkey and welcome to DLP DIS board
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We were at the park on Bastille Day when it was very crowded. Still mananged to get a fair bit done and spent a bit of time enjoying the detail of the Disneyland park

 

[Ware Bears]

Hi blue monkey, welcome to the DIS.

Thanks for the warning that it could be very busy, there is EMH on the Saturday, Sunday and Monday mornings.

but then someone working for VC

What does VC stand for??

 

[Bexx]

Welcome to the DIS Blue Monkey

I'm there for the 11th and 12th November, so thanks for the heads up. I was expecting the Sunday to busy anyway, but here's hoping that the Monday is still reasonably quiet!

 

[Cyrano]

I'm there for the 11th and 12th November, so thanks for the heads up. I was expecting the Sunday to busy anyway, but here's hoping that the Monday is still reasonably quiet!

I'm sure it will not be any busier than most bank holidays, as we all know

 

[bavaria]

I was there last year same time and no issues. In fact I have photos of the Cheyenne completed deserted with zero people in the photos.

 

[Ware Bears]

In fact I have photos of the Cheyenne completed deserted with zero people in the photos.

How wonderful!!

 

[winchamwench]

Hi I'm a bit of a newbie so have only got my one previous experience to go off.

We were there a couple of years ago over this period - 9 - 13 Nov and the 11th (which fell on a Friday that year) was horrendous for us. Every other day we had plenty of time for the rides and most were a walk on, it was great but on the 11th by the afternoon we gave up and went ice skating instead. I have never been over a really busy holiday period and it was something of a shock on that particular day although the rest of the time was fine.

Not too sure when the Christmas season starts this year but if it has started by that weekend then it might be a good idea to plan some specific things to do if it is really busy like the Mickey Winterwonderland Show, Lion King show, Ice skating etc or things like the Treehouse etc so you are not spending all your time queuing for rides.

I think if you've probably been at a busy time before it will not be too bad. I have to say we are going 9 - 13 Dec (Sun - Thur) this time and I am slightly anxious that it is going to be really busy.

Mags

 

[Bexx]

Not too sure when the Christmas season starts this year but if it has started by that weekend then it might be a good idea to plan some specific things to do if it is really busy like the Mickey Winterwonderland Show, Lion King show, Ice skating etc or things like the Treehouse etc so you are not spending all your time queuing for rides.

Good advice, as Christmas "starts" on the 10th this year.

When we arrive on the 11th I just want to see Cinemagique, then we'll probably chill out in the Sequoia Lodge bar until we eat at Walt's in the evening!!! This is what I had planned to do anyway, so I'm not too worried if it's going to be busier than I expected.

I think if you've probably been at a busy time before it will not be too bad. I have to say we are going 9 - 13 Dec (Sun - Thur) this time and I am slightly anxious that it is going to be really busy.

I've been mid December before and it wasn't bad at all during the week. The Sunday, of course, will be packed!!

 

[winchamwench]

I had better take some of my own advice for the Sunday afternoon then. Maybe lunch in the Village (in order to avoid the parks) when we get there and then just a stroll around the park soaking up the atmopshere with a couple of rides in mind before an early night ready to get up for the EMH on the Monday and straight into the rides.

Mags

 

[Bexx]

Can I suggest that you make a reservation to eat at Walt's on the Sunday evening. Phone the restaurant reservation number a couple of weeks before you go, and book in for about an hour before Fantillusion and ask very nicely if you could have a table by the window (obviously not guaranteed, but you stand a good chance)

Park magic, in a peaceful setting

 

[whitty76]

Got me worried now, we have booked 9th Nov to 12th, and with a 3yr old in tow dont relish prospect of queing for hours. Does public transport run as normal on the 11th ? may have a day round Paris if its going to be really bad

 

[Cyrano]

Hi whitty76 and welcome to DLP DIS board
We are a friendly bunch here so please join in on any other thread or if you have a number of questions then just start a new thread for each

If you have not had a look yet, DLP posting rules are here, DIS posting guidelines can be found here and details regarding help on signatures here

 

[blue_monkey]

Hi Whitty,

I am not sure to be honest, there is the sea Life near the outlet - 5 mins from DLP so that might be worth a day out, or spend the day chilling around your hotel. You might find your hotel runs a day trip and you can get onto those. Sorry i could not be of more help but I felt it better to warm people how busy it was on this weekend.

 

[Ware Bears]

Hi whitty76, welcome to the DIS!

Are you staying at a Disney hotel? If so, get into the park early using Extra Magic Hours, and use fastpass.

Don't worry, you will still have a magical time.

 

[Melcatfish]

Wow, thanks for this info, I was looking at going on 10th - 13th but i will change my plans and go a week later now i think.

Mel
x

 

[whitty76]

Hi whitty76, welcome to the DIS!

Are you staying at a Disney hotel? If so, get into the park early using Extra Magic Hours, and use fastpass.

Don't worry, you will still have a magical time.

Were staying at Elysee val d'europe, so Blue monkey's idea of visiting the sea life centre might be a good one if its really busy on the Sunday, as its so close. Thanks for the warning about how busy it will be, at least we can be a bit better prepared.

 

[bavaria]

Generally weekends leading up to Christmas tend to be busy, but empty out in the evening, especially Sunday.

To give you an example, last year the holiday season started on the 11th, a Saturday. MK was busy in the late afternoon, but as soon as the castle was lit, the park cleared out. Wait times for Phantom Manor were five minutes, for example.

Sundays tend to clear out around 3-4pm as locals head home. Mornings are still relatively quiet. If you can plan some downtime from noon to 4pm, or take in some shows, etc then, or have a nice lunch, you should be able to bypass the longest lines.

So long as you plan to get to the park at opening, and stay in the evening, and use EMH if they are available, you should be fine.

 

[jillrobinson]

Bavaria, you have answered my question before I've asked it.
We've got Saturday and Sunday both with EMH and the park open until 22.00 and 21.00 respectively.
Normally we stay in the park until closing then go and eat around 8.00, but what I was intending to run by you folks, was:

Be at the park gates for 8.00am then head for lunch around 12.00, possibly Cafe Mickey on Saturday and the Sunday Brunch at the Steakhouse on Sunday, then back to the hotel for a rest and head back to the parks at teatime, hoping that the evening will quieten down again, as those with very young children and as Bavaria, says the locals, leave. Aim to be back in the park for 4.00pm for OUAD.

 

[Ware Bears]

A great plan you know I thoroughly recommend the Steakhouse Sunday brunch!!